The Sunshine Coast Recreation & Equestrian Park
These grounds have been established since 1985, on a magnificent parcel of land at Doonan. It was origionaly a Noosa Heads Rotary Club initiative in conjunction with the Eumundi District Pony Club, with the Equestrian population of the Sunshine coast being the main users and developers of the site for a number of years. It has evolved over the years with the Sunshine Coast Recreation & Equestrian Park Association(SCREPA) taking over from the Noosa Heads Rotary Club as the Leasee and the Sunshine Coast Combined Equestrian Groups (SCEG ), formerly known as EDE&PC as the Sub-lessee's of the Equestrian facilities.
The park is situated on 64 hectares of natural wilderness parklands on the northern most tip of the Maroochydore Shire and 5 minutes drive to the famous International resorts of Noosa Heads, Queensland Australia.
The development of the Equestrian facilities on the Sub- leased area of this Park has been strongly supported by the Community, State, Federal and Local Government and many equestrian groups throughout South East Queensland, including the Equestrian Federation of Australia, PCAQ and Riding for the Disabled and many other active riding groups.
The demands for use of this facility have far exceeded our expectations and the development of the park is an ongoing process in the effort to meet the needs of all it's users.
Eumundi District Pony Club (EDEP) was the first Club to make this venue their home ground, when they moved from the Eumundi Sports ground in 1985. This small band of very enthusiastic and hard working people did the impossible and transformed the site, then swamp and bush, into an equestrian sports facility. With the help of a (CEP) Commonwealth Employment Scheme grant they built the Clubhouse, Fenced the area, and with a second CEP Grant built the Initial cross country course and later with further funding built the first stable block, yards and water supply and power were installed.
As more equestrian enthusiasts on the Sunshine Coast recognised the grounds' potential other equestrian discipline groups formed under the parent Group now known as the Sunshine Coast Combined Equestrian Groups Inc. a Constituent Member of the Equestrian Federation of Queensland Inc.
Eumundi District Pony Club Inc., (Constituent Member) eDARES (eumundi District Active Riders & Equestrian Sports),(Consituent Member) and DEG (Doonan Eventing Group), were all previously the Adult Riders of the Eumundi District Equestrian and Pony Club, have since been joined by the Kingaroy Equestrian Group (Constituent member) Sunshine Coast Adult Trial and Endurance Riders Inc. (Affliate member) and Riding for the Disabled Association Doonan, (Constituent member).
The Equestrian group's administration is carried out by SCEG inc. and consists of the individual membership of all persons in the respective constituent groups as SCCEG members.
A Delegate from each of the groups/disciplines is represented on the committee ensuring equal input and fair and equitable use of the grounds. SCCEG is responsible for bookings, insurance, services and maintainence of the Equestrian component of the grounds and liasion with the Head Leasee .
The Cross Country Course which is outside the designated Equestrian area is included in the sub-lease for 20 weekends each year on an advance booking agreement. It is one of the Best on the Sunshine Coast, and DEG has undertaken a $15,000.00 Loan from Noosa Council to upgrade the course.
The newly completed 80m X 100m Sand Dressage and General Training Arenas completed this year 2003 (Gaming Commission Grant for $15,000.00) makes this facility second to none.
The horse accommodation facilities are now huge, with 80 big covered stables and 100 yards adjacent to the Club House/Canteen. (A Government Grant for $50,000.00 completed in 1998)
The Show jumping equipment that included an Olympic size brick wall, has been extented and a trailer to carry all this equipment was made possible by the generosity of Gaming Commission Funds received in 1999..
This venue was graded as a Regional Standard Equestrian Facility and was approved by the Queensland Olympic Committee as a Pre Olympic Training Venue.
It was the training ground for two our our International Equestrian Competitors who competed at the World Equestrian Games in Adelaide in 1986(both were locals and Club Members) and in the Haig, Holland in 1994.
RDAQ (Riding for the Disabled Qld) has used the Facility for 2 State Championship Events and an International/National Championships with competitors from Japan, Denmark, England and New Zealand represented.
The Venue is once again in October this year hosting the 2003 Queensland State Championships. eDARES is proud of our member, Georgia Bruce, one of the two Queenslanders representing Australia at the Para-oympic World Dressage Championships in Belgium and are on the Para-Olympic Squad for the Athens Olympics.
This venue was approved for and selected by the Danish Equestrian Para - Oympic Team (Gold Medal Winners) for their Olympic Training venue (They particularly enjoyed the freedom of using our bushland setting for the rare experience of an Aussie trial ride between training sessions.)
The Riding for Disabled Queensland State Office is also considering moving to the site and establishing a State Training Centre.
Riding for the Disabled Association Doonan is our newest member and has conducted a survey which revealed that an urgent need for another Centre is required on the Coastal belt of the Sunshine Coast after an overwhelming response to an Open Day early in 2003 on the site.
To accomodate the large number of people on the Sunshine Coast who would benefit from Hippotheropy and recreational riding such a centre could offer a Steering Committee was formed and the with the support of the existing user Groups, and advice and support from the Department of Disability Services, RDAQ and many letters of endorsement from Ministers, Councils, and the Eumundi Historical Society and Local Community Organizations has set out to establish a Centre. Although the existing resources are considerable, the old Clubhouse will need an extensive upgrade and a covered and a fenced riding arena will need to be contructed to complete the centre.
